Harry entered first, dressed in clean clothes. ‘Lottie, we wondered where you were. Cousin Jack has ridden off with Captain Forsythe and he wouldn’t take me with him.’
Beth laughed. ‘Of course he wouldn’t, you ninny. They were going to speak to the villagers at Thurston, he could hardly take a child with him.’
‘I’m not little…’ Harry whined.
‘That will do, Harry,’ Charlotte told him sharply. He stopped, his mouth round. He was unused to hearing his beloved sister speak like that.
‘Yes, Lottie, I’m sorry. Do you have the headache coming?’
‘No, sweetheart, I’m just a bit out of sorts. I was really looking forward to attending service this morning and I’m disappointed we missed it.’
Harry looked even more crestfallen. ‘That’s my fault too, Lottie. I’m a very bad boy today.’
Charlotte knelt, hugging him close and kissing his tears away. ‘You’re not bad, darling, you are a lovely boy and I’m sorry to be a grouch.’ Annie and Betty came in, followed by the three kitchen maids. ‘Where have you all been? I didn’t expect to find this place empty. The kitchen is normally the centre of activity.’
‘Miss Carstairs, we beg your pardon, but we went out to wave off the militia,’ Betty said. ‘They are escorting his grace to the village and then they’re returning to Ipswich. A handsome body of men, if ever I saw one.’
‘They have obviously found nothing untoward. Let’s hope their presence here has driven whoever it was, away.’
‘Amen to that, Miss Carstairs,’ Annie replied.
‘Mrs Thomas says more girls and women will be here tomorrow to start a real clean up and the men from the village will be starting on the outside at the same time.’
‘That is good news, Betty. Now, I’ve come down to find something to eat, I’m afraid your delicious scones were dropped.’
Charlotte ate her belated breakfast and then left the children with their nursemaid. She had to know if Jack had received the letter before he left. She was also concerned about the imminent arrival of the journeymen, for they always had to be paid at the end of each day, and as far as she knew there was no money in the house to do this.
She hoped the lawyers would bring some ready cash with them. If someone from the village was behind the attacks it would not help the situation if they didn’t receive their wages at the end of their labour.
Meltham was exiting Jack’s room as she arrived in the hall. ‘Has Lord Thurston read my note, do you know?’
‘Yes, miss, he read it before he went out.’
She knew it wasn’t correct etiquette to question a member of staff but she had to know. ‘Err… how was he- how did he react?’
The butler smiled. ‘He was happy to receive it, miss. He laughed and tucked it into his waist-coat pocket, close to his heart.’
Charlotte blushed. Good grief, Meltham believed her note had been a billet-doux. ‘Thank you. I’m going to go for a walk. If Lord Thurston asks for me, please tell him I am not available.’
Mary was pleased to accompany Charlotte on her perambulation around the overgrown rose garden, the walled vegetable garden and the maze. She spent a couple of hours upstairs in the freshly whitewashed schoolroom with Harry and Beth and then retired early. Jack hadn’t returned and she wished to be in her bed-chamber before he did so.
Charlotte was studying her notes in the library the following morning when the door opened and his lordship strolled in as though yesterday’s incident had never happened. He tossed her note onto the desk.
‘You are a pea-goose, Charlotte. I have no intention of releasing you; we’re to be married, as planned, three weeks from today.
‘I cannot marry you, you are…’
‘A depraved monster, a brute! Yes, yes- my dear, that is stale news. But, my love, you have no choice. You have nowhere else to go and can hardly tramp the streets with Harry and Beth in tow— so accept it. I have.’ He perched on the desk, smiling in a way that made her forget her firm intentions. ‘It’s far easier when you’ve swallowed the pill, the anticipation is much worse. Did your mama never tell you that?’
What was he talking about? ‘Pills? Jack, I have no notion what you mean. What have pills to do with anything?’
‘Swallow them, then you cannot taste the noxious centre, I have always thought it an excellent analogy.’
She was even more confused. Should she be outraged that he compared marrying her to taking unpleasant medicine? Or had she completely missed his point?
‘Are you suggesting I am unpalatable, that you have to force yourself to marry me?’
‘Yes, my love, but you see, I have no wish to marry anyone, your objections are to myself alone, therefore it’s much harder for me. And,’ he finished, openly laughing at her, ‘if I can be happy then so can you.’
‘I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. And please don’t laugh at me, I don’t enjoy being a figure of fun.’
He flicked her affectionately on the cheek. ‘Then, my dear, don’t behave like a ninny hammer.’ He straightened. ‘So, that is settled. By the way, the gig will be ready tomorrow so you can go to Ipswich to buy your bride clothes.’
She threw her hands up in exasperation. ‘Very well, I surrender. You are right, I have nowhere else to go, but I promise, Jack, if a viable alternative presents itself I shall go, and you cannot stop me. I’m marrying you out of necessity not because I take any pleasure in the action.’
He bowed. ‘That is all I ask, all I expect. We can be friends, partners and lovers, which will be more than enough for me.’ He turned to go.
‘Jack, what happened in the village yesterday? Did you uncover anything interesting?’
‘No; I’m certain no one living there was responsible for the attacks. If the threat came from that direction then it must have been an outsider, a seditious malcontent from elsewhere.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. I’m sure once the cottages are repaired and they have food on the table, no one in Thurston will be unhappy with their lot.’
‘I must go, Charlotte; I have men to organize. Not all the villagers are involved with the repair of the cottages, some are here to start clearing the park.’
She smiled, this was the man she found so irresistible. ‘Are we out of danger? Can we relax our guard?’
‘I think that’s possibly premature, my love. However, whilst there are so many men about the place, it should be safe to walk anywhere within the grounds.’
Charlotte was uncertain how she felt for without the slightest difficulty, he had outmanoeuvred her. He was so alluring when he was being playful. She sighed, gathering up the book she’d come down to collect. Beth and Harry would be wondering where she was, she’d promised to join them at nine o’clock, and now the time was almost fifteen minutes to ten.
Lessons were resuming today, thus the need for books. She had noticed a large illustrated book on the flora and fauna of East Anglia. This would interest the children and they could look out for the plants and animals they read about when they took their daily walks.
A parlour maid disturbed them just before noon. ‘Excuse me, miss, but Mr Meltham says as the legal gentlemen are here and are wishing to speak to you.’
Puzzled by this message Charlotte asked, ‘Is Lord Thurston not available?’
‘No, miss, he’s nowhere to be found, he’s out in the park somewhere.’
‘Very well, I shall be down directly.’ She got up. ‘You can finish your handwriting, Beth, and you, your drawing, Harry. When that is done, Annie can bring you down for luncheon. I shall join you in the parlour when I have finished my meeting.’
On her way down Charlotte wondered why the lawyers should wish to speak to her. Jack’s ridiculous challenge had been abandoned and, as far as she knew, never mentioned to Mr Blower or his associate.
The two gentlemen were waiting in the library. They bowed deeply at her entrance. The older man, obviously Mr Blower, addressed her. ‘Thank you for coming down
so promptly, Miss Carstairs, and I apologize for disturbing you.’
‘How can I be of assistance, sir?’
‘We have the funds Lord Thurston requested and the papers to release the remainder when he requires it.’ He cleared his throat. ‘But it is on another matter that we wish to speak to you. We wish to know your decision regarding the house in Ipswich.’
‘I’m sorry, sir, I have no knowledge of a house in Ipswich. I am afraid you will have to wait until Lord Thurston returns, for your answer.’
‘This is somewhat delicate, Miss Carstairs. Do I have your permission to speak of this?’
She was tempted to refuse, but curiosity overcame her distaste. ‘Very well, what is it that you wish to tell me?’
‘We have acquired a fine house in the best part of town and it is available for you and the children, and your staff of course, to move into straightaway. Your residence unchaperoned at Thurston Hall is causing speculation and gossip.’
‘A house you say? Somewhere I can live on my own with the children? Not only am I under age but I have no funds with which to run such an establishment, as I am sure you are aware.’
Mr Blower smiled. ‘There was an annuity left for your mother, in Lord Thurston’s will and that will be more than enough for your needs. And a suitable companion will be easy to find, there are dozens of impecunious gentlewomen looking for exactly this sort of position.’
Charlotte stood up, terminating interview. ‘Please leave details of the house and the annuity. I shall decide whether I am going to move after I have discussed the matter with Lord Thurston.’ There was something about these men, their oily smiles and shifty eyes that she didn’t trust. ‘Lord Thurston and I are betrothed, we plan to marry in three weeks, so such an upheaval hardly seems worthwhile at this point in time.’
The lawyers exchanged glances and she began to feel uncomfortable closeted alone with them. ‘If you will excuse me, sirs, I have matters to attend to elsewhere.’ She nodded and hurried from the library.
In the corridor she paused, trying to sort out the conflicting emotions. Jack should have told her about the house, given her the option of moving. Why had he not done so? If he was as reluctant to marry her as he had professed, then being offered an honourable alternative should have seemed like a godsend.
Did she not have a right to decide for herself? The more she considered it the angrier she became. She forgot her disquiet about the lawyers, the possible reasons why he might have decided to marry her and not send her away, and allowed her righteous indignation at his highhanded behaviour to sweep her along.
When his lordship returned from his gallivanting around the countryside she would confront him with his perfidy and tell him their marriage was cancelled. She had her alternative accommodation and the fund to support herself; she had been given exactly what she wanted.
For some reason being offered this opportunity didn’t fill her with the excitement she had anticipated. In fact, if she was honest, her heart had sunk to her boots at the thought of her imminent departure from Thurston Hall.
Chapter Thirteen
Jack returned from his duties on the estate leaving barely enough time to don his black jacket and attend poor Jenkins’s funeral. All the male servants attended and a few folk from the village, but it was a quiet affair. The young man had no family locally and no one had ever asked him where he hailed from so no family members were present.
Thurston Church had been hastily cleaned for the occasion so the pallbearers, Jethro, two grooms and a footman, had no difficulty carrying the plain wooden casket down the aisle. The vicar completed the service at the graveside in the churchyard and when it was over Jack gave Meltham a handful of coins and told him take the mourners to the village inn for a drink. Then he followed the reverend gentleman back inside the tiny Norman church to hear the bans of his marriage read out for the first time.
‘Thank you, Mr Peterson; I apologize for the state of the building but it has not been used for over a year. I promise it will be pristine on my wedding day in three weeks’ time.’
‘I am looking forward to performing that ceremony, your grace. It is far too long since a Thurston married in this little church.’
A brisk wind rustled the beech trees showering Jack with crimson leaves. He smiled; was this another nudge from the Almighty? To his astonishment at that precise moment the black clouds parted and the sun shone down bathing him in bright light. He stared, awestruck, and the hairs on his arms stood up. He bowed to the beam of light, not sure if he was witnessing a miracle or a series of incredible coincidences. Whatever it was, it was remarkable, and convinced him that the time had come for him to mend his ways. He must stop swearing and shouting when he was annoyed and cease to issue orders to Charlotte as though she was a private under his command.
He grinned - it would be hard. He had spent all his adult life in the service of the Crown. There had been no necessity for drawing-room manners in the army. Of course, he had attended numerous balls and soirees, card parties and routs, but always in his regimentals, hiding behind his persona as a major. Who the real Jack was he had no idea, but he was sure he wasn’t the irascible foulmouthed man his self-pity had allowed him to become.
Mr Peterson handed him the key to the church. ‘You will require this, your grace, if you wish your staff to get in to clean and arrange the flowers before the big day.’
‘But Sunday’s service and the second reading?’
‘I shall call in for the key, your grace, never fear. I have been considering your suggestion that I should take care of both parishes until you can appoint a new incumbent.’
‘And your decision?’
‘I should be delighted to help. I can hold a morning service at thirty minutes past eleven o’clock each Sunday. Unfortunately time does not allow me to return to do evensong. However, I shall be available to perform baptisms, funerals, and of course, marriages as requested.’
‘That is excellent news and a great relief. Miss Carstairs will be delighted she can walk to church.’ Seeing the kindly old gentleman’s enquiring look he quickly added, ‘and I shall accompany her, of course.’
He strode off to the Hall, a short walk along an overgrown, bramble infested path.
Jack’s brief conversation with his lawyers had also been satisfactory. He was looking forward to handing Charlotte a bag of coins to spend in Ipswich the next day. It would be dinnertime soon and tonight, for the first time, he had asked for it to be served formally. He knew the only room available was the breakfast parlour, not very grand for a celebration meal, but this chamber was better than nothing.
The message he had left instructed her to be dressed appropriately ready to dine with him at six o’clock. This gave him an hour to organize a bath and change of clothes. He smiled; he had no evening dress so it would have to be his dress regimentals. He hadn’t worn his uniform since he had attended the ball the night before Waterloo. He remembered some officers had stayed so long they had been obliged to fight in their best. He was glad he had not been one of them.
*
Beth clapped her hands. ‘Lottie, I’ve never seen you look so beautiful. Is that the gown you made from the ball dress mama had for her come out?’
Charlotte nodded. ‘It is, Beth. Because the skirt was worn over hoops there was ample material in that alone. All I had to purchase was the green sarcenet to make the over skirt.’
‘Mama said green wasn’t suitable for young ladies only married ladies.’
‘I’m sure Mama would have approved, Beth, after all I’m almost a married lady, am I not?’ She smoothed out her silk evening gloves and examined the stain on the tip of one finger closely. This was so small she was sure certain Jack wouldn’t notice.
Harry had been watching the men from the village clean their scythes before they departed for the day. Satisfied they had finished he scrambled down from his position in the window seat and came over to admire his sister.
‘How do you eat with gloves
on, Lottie? Won’t the food go all over them?’
Charlotte smiled and held up her hands for him to examine. ‘See, Harry, they have no fingers, the material ends at the knuckles.’
‘And why do you have a bit hanging out of your skirt at the back, Lottie, none of your other gowns have one?’
‘It is a demi-train, Harry, all evening gowns have one, don’t they, Lottie?’ Beth informed him smugly.
‘What’s that? Why’s it a train? He had never seen a formal gown before and knelt down to examine the skirt.
‘Are your hands clean, Master Harry?’ Mary enquired anxiously.
‘Course they are, I washed them this morning.’
Beth reacted first. ‘Harry, don’t touch Lottie’s gown, you will spoil it.’ Her shouted warning was accompanied by a violent push, sending him sprawling. Annie bustled in and removed both children, scolding them gently for misbehaving.
Charlotte felt much better. The fracas had released her tension wonderfully. She was sorry she hadn’t had the opportunity to speak to Jack about the house in Ipswich, tell him she was determined to move there, but in the excitement of wearing this gown for the first time, she had forgotten to be cross.
Meltham in his habitual black, and two footmen, smart in freshly pressed green and gold livery, waited to greet her. She smiled, such formality and to dine in the breakfast parlour!
The butler bowed. ‘His grace is in the drawing-room, Miss Carstairs, if you would care to follow me.’
It seemed it required the two footmen and Meltham to escort her across the width of the entrance hall. Trying not to laugh she followed them as instructed. Outside what had been Jack’s domain, the butler halted. The footmen ceremoniously opened the double doors.
The Duke's Challenge Page 14
